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ALGERIA'S SILENT WAR...IN TIZI OUZOU, THE CAPITAL IN THE PLAINS OF THE KABYLIA MOUNTAIN REGION,?

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ALGERIA'S SILENT WAR...IN TIZI OUZOU, THE CAPITAL IN THE PLAINS OF THE KABYLIA MOUNTAIN REGION, GOVERNMENT FORCES MAINTAIN CONSTANT PATROL.

THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT FORCES - THE FFS - HAVE WITHDRAWN TO THE MOUNTAINS.THE ROADS TO THEM ARE CALM - THERE IS NO SIGN SO FAR OF THE GOVERNMENT FORCES MOVING UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

OBSERVERS ON THE SPOT SAY THE FFS COULD NOT COME DOWN AND TAKE ALGIERS AND THE GOVERNMENT TROOPS - AS THE FRENCH FOUND COULD NOT GO INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND WIN.

TAKING STOCK OF THE SITUATION: PRESIDENT BEN BELLA'S ECONOMIC MINISTER, M.BOUMAZA DURING HIS VISIT TO TIZI OUZOU YESTERDAY (TUESDAY).THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID THERE WOULD BE NO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FFS LEADERS.HE WAS PREPARED, HE SAID, TO USE ALL MEANS TO PUT DOWN THE 11-DAY RESISTANCE.

AS FOR THE DISSIDENT LEADERS AIT AHMED AND COLONEL MOHAN IN THEIR STRONGHOLD AT MICHELET, THE PRESIDENT SAID THE ONLY LANGUAGE THEY UNDERSTOOD WAS THAT OF THE MACHINE GUN.

AIT AHMED AS POLITICAL CHIEF TOLD REPORTERS TODAY (WEDNESDAY): "WE KNOW ALL THE RISKS.WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING REPRESSION SINCE 1945." HE AND COLONEL MOHAND WHO WAS RECENTLY DISMISSED AS GOVERNMENT COMMANDER OF THE KABYLIA REGION HAVE PLEDGED TO DESTROY WHAT THEY CALL THE BEN BELLA DICTATORSHIP.

TONIGHT, THE FFS IN A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED IN PARIS APPEALED TO FRENCH PEOPLE IN ALGERIA TO HELP THEM IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST PRESIDENT BEN BELLA'S RULE.